Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net THE GOLDEN AMAZONS OF VENUS By JOHN MURRAY REYNOLDS [Transcriber Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter 1939. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [Sidenote: Dakta death, horrible beyond the weirdest fever-dreams of Earth-men, faced Space Ship Commander Gerry Norton. The laconic interplanetary explorer knew too much. He stood in the dynamic path of Lansa, Lord of the Scaly Ones, the crafty monster bent on conquering the fair City of Larr and all the rich, shadowless lands of the glorious Amazons of Venus.] The space-ship _Viking_--two hundred feet of gleaming metal and polished duralite--lay on the launching platform of New York City's municipal airport. Her many portholes gleamed with light. She was still taking on rocket fuel from a tender, but otherwise all the final stores were aboard. Her helicopters were turning over slowly, one at a time, as they were tested. In the _Viking's_ upper control room Gerry Norton and Steve Brent made a final check of the instrument panels. Both men wore the blue and gold uniform of the Interplanetary Fleet. Fatigue showed on both their faces, on Steve's freckled pan and on Gerry Norton's lean face. Gerry in particular had not slept for thirty-six hours. His responsibility was a heavy one, as commander of this second attempt to reach the planet Venus from Earth. Well--he would have a chance to catch up on sleep during the long days of travel that lay ahead. The two officers finished their inspection, and strolled out onto the open deck atop the vessel. For a while they leaned on the rail, staring down at the dense crowds that had thronged the airport to see the departure of the _Viking_. In this warm weather the men wore only light shorts and gayly colored shirts. The women wore the long dresses and metal caps and thin gauze veils that were so popular that year. Around the fringes of the airport stood the ramparts of New York's many tall buildings, with the four hundred story bulk of the Federal Building a giant metal finger against the midnight sky. "When are we going to pull out, Chief?" Steve Brent asked. "As soon as the ship from Mars gets in and Olga Stark can come aboard." "Funny thing--I've never been able to like that gal!" Steve said. Gerry smiled faintly. "That puts you in the minority, from all reports. However--that's aside from the point. She's the most capable Space-pilot in the whole fleet, and we need her. What's she like personally?" "Tall, dark, and beautiful--with a nasty tongue and the temper of a fiend," Steve said. He yawned, and changed the subject. "Y'know--I've just been wondering what really did happen to the _Stardust_!"